House votes to terminate COVID health emergency IMMEDIATELY

The US House of Representatives voted to terminate COVID-19 health emergency immediately and halt the vaccine requirement for health care workers with the help of democrats. 

Republican lawmakers on Tuesday pushed for the bill the Pandemic is Over Act that passed in a party line vote, 220 to 210. A second bill, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, was also passed with the votes of seven democrats.

The bill will now be heard in the Senate and if passed would eliminate the health emergency that has been in tact since 2020. 

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden announced on Monday that the national emergency will end on May 11 after extending it on January 11. 

Republican lawmakers passed a bill to terminate the COVID health emergency despite Joe Biden declaring it will end in May 

Republican lawmakers on Tuesday pushed for the bill the Pandemic is Over Act that passed in a party line vote, 220 to 210

Lawmakers against the terminating the pandemic health emergency argued that it would be irresponsible to ‘end the COVID-19 public health emergency virtually overnight.’ 

Representatives Frank Pallone stood behind the opposition argument with other democratic lawmakers sharing the same perspective, according to Fox News.

It is unclear what democratic leaders supported the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act.

Despite the push to end the vaccine requirement for health care workers, it is likely it will never come to fruition as of now – with the White House previously threatening to veto the bill if it passed. 

‘While COVID-19 is no longer the disruptive threat that it once was, it makes no sense for Congress to reverse this protection for vulnerable patients, as well as our health care workers who have given so much to protect us,’ a spokesperson for the White House said, according to Fox News.

The White House further added that ending the pandemic health emergency can also lead to millions losing their health insurance and states losing billions in funding. 

A second bill, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, was also passed with the votes of seven democrats

Earlier this month, The Biden administration extended the Covid-19 public health emergency declaration, despite the President claiming the pandemic was ‘over.’ 

A lengthy statement made by Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra makes it clear that the federal government believes the need for the emergency still ‘exists.’ 

Contentiously, Biden told CBS News’ 60 Minutes in September: ‘The pandemic is over.’ 

‘We still have a problem with Covid. We’re still doing a lot of work on it,’ the president said at the time.

‘But the pandemic is over. If you notice, no one’s wearing masks. Everybody seems to be in pretty good shape. And so I think it’s changing.’

Earlier this month, The Biden administration extended the Covid-19 public health emergency declaration, despite the President claiming the pandemic was ‘over’

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the military would no longer require Covid-19 vaccinations for troops, despite the fact that more than 6,000 service members had already been discharged for refusing the shot on religious or other grounds.

He added that he still recommends service members get vaccinated, and pointed out that it was up to commanding officers whether they deploy troops based on vaccination status.

Austin’s decision was pursuant to a provision written into this year’s annual defense budget bill.